Gouania willdenowi is a teleost fish without immunoglobulin genes

Abstract

AbstractIn the study of immunoglobulin V genes in fish genomes, we found that the species Gouania willdenowi does not possess any such regions, neither for the heavy chain nor for the light chains. Also, genes that code for the immunoglobulin constant regions were also not found. A detailed analysis of the chromosomal region of these genes revealed a deletion in the entire locus for regions of the heavy and light chains. These studies provide evidence that this species does not possess genes coding for immunoglobulins. Additionally, we found the genes that code for CD79a and CD79b protein molecules have also been deleted. Regions for the Tα/β lymphocyte receptors are present but the T γ/δ receptors were not found. In transcripts of two other Gobiesocidae species, Acystus sp. and Tomicodon sp., no antibody sequences could be detected, possibly indicating the absence of immunoglobulins in all species of this family.